Gift From King Salman Officially Becomes State's In Today's Memory, February 15, 2021

The closeness of President Jokowi and King Salman from Saudi Arabia. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA Memories of today, four years ago, February 15, 2021, King Salman's gift to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) worth IDR 8.7 billion officially belongs to the state. The prizes given consisted of various kinds of goods, from rings, bracelets, to gold necklaces.

Previously, it had become a tradition among the leaders of countries who met and continued to give gifts. The prize is a form of maintaining foreign political relations. Jokowi did not miss it. He gets many gifts when visiting abroad.

Foreign politics needs a close relationship between heads of state. This condition has a big influence in many ways. Cooperation is smooth. Foreign aid has flowed. The pattern of closeness to friendly countries has even been initiated by the history of President Soekarno's era.

Bung Karno often made visits abroad and filled the presidential plane with many gifts in the form of works of art. Exchange prizes between the two heads of state were also carried out. The goal is clear to increase intimacy in foreign political maps.

The same pattern continues. Leaders must give gifts to other leaders. The prizes given were not arbitrary. Some of them can reach a fantastic price. Take for example when President Jokowi visited Saudi Arabia on May 15, 2019.

Jokowi met with the ruler of Saudi Arabia, King Salman. The state visit took place with joy. In particular, Jokowi and his staff did not come home empty-handed. They get many gifts from King Salman.

The prize for Jokowi alone reached a price of Rp. 8.7 billion. The prize consists of bracelets, kalong, rings, watches, pens, perfume, prayer beads, and Al Quran. The friendship with King Salman was warm and maintained.

King Salman even congratulated Jokowi who was re-elected as President of Indonesia. The congratulations were given exactly a few days after the summary of the KPU's vote count process on May 23, 2019.

"On behalf of the people and government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I congratulate Joko Widodo on his re-elect as President of the Republic of Indonesia. May the Indonesian people be more advanced and prosperous," said King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in his statement as quoted by the ANTARA website, May 23, 2019.

King Salman's gift to Jokowi did not necessarily become private property. However, after returning from Saudi Arabia, Jokowi immediately reported the prize to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). All of this was because basically government officials were prohibited from receiving gifts.

A prize worth Rp8.7 billion was handed over to the KPK. At its peak, the KPK then handed over the Directorate General of State Assets (DJKN) on February 15, 2021. This means that these items are now officially state property.

It is planned that King Salman's gift will enter the museum. The matter of time is still unclear.

All gratuities that have been reported by President Jokowi to the KPK are designated as state property with a Decree. According to the regulations, after the decision is made, the KPK is obliged to hand over the goods referred to to the Ministry of Finance through DJKN," said Acting Director of Gratification and Public Services of the KPK, Syarief Hidayat as quoted by the COMPASS.com page, February 15, 2021.